Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop a hierarchical scale that measures activity limitations in climbing stairs in patients with lower-extremity disorders living at home.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with Mokken scale analysis of 15 dichotomous items.
SETTING: Outpatient clinics of secondary and tertiary care centers.
PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=759; mean age +/- standard deviation, 59.8+/-15.0y; 48% men) living at home, with different lower-extremity disorders: stroke, poliomyelitis, osteoarthritis, amputation, complex regional pain syndrome type I, and diabetic foot problems.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Fit of the monotone homogeneity model, indicating whether items can be used for measuring patients; (2) fit of the double monotonicity model, indicating invariant (hierarchical) item ordering; (3) intratest reliability, indicating repeatability of the sum score; and (4) differential item functioning, addressing the validity of comparisons between subgroups of patients.
RESULTS: There was (1) good fit of the monotone homogeneity model (coefficient H=.50) for all items for all patients, and for subgroups defined by age, gender, and diagnosis; (2) good fit of the double monotonicity model (coefficient H(T)=.58); (3) good intratest reliability (coefficient rho=.90); and (4) no differential item functioning with respect to age and gender, but differential item functioning for 4 items in amputees compared with nonamputees.
CONCLUSIONS: A hierarchical scale, with excellent scaling characteristics, has been developed for measuring activity limitations in climbing stairs in patients with lower-extremity disorders who live at home. However, measurements should be interpreted with caution when comparisons are made between patients with and without amputation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 967-971 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
Volume | 85 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2004 |
Keywords
- Activities of Daily Living
- Amputees
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Diabetic Foot
- Disability Evaluation
- Female
- Humans
- Lower Extremity
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Models, Statistical
- Osteoarthritis
- Poliomyelitis
- Stroke
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't